Ukraine: New ceasefire to start July 1 /update 2

Event

The Trilateral Contact Group (composed of representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe [OSCE]) announced on Wednesday, June 27, that a new ceasefire in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts will come into effect on Sunday, July 1. According to an OSCE representative, the truce will coincide with the start of the harvest season. The leaders of the separatist forces in Donetsk and Luhansk have confirmed their commitment to the agreement.

Daily clashes continue to occur between Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation (JFO) soldiers and pro-Russian separatists. On June 27, three JFO personnel were killed and another three wounded during the fighting. Most attacks occurred near Mariupol (Donetsk oblast).

Context

Clashes between Ukrainian state forces and the separatists have been taking place on a regular basis despite a number of ceasefire agreements made since 2014. According to the UN, more than 10,300 people have died since the eastern Ukraine conflict erupted in April 2014, soon after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The fighting has displaced more than 1.6 million people. The rebels remain in control of a large swath of territory in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, which are mainly Russian-speaking regions.

Advice

Due to the ongoing conflict, many Western governments advise against travel to the far east of Ukraine, including the cities of Donetsk, Horlivka, Makiyivka, Mariupol, and Luhansk.